June 24/10 16:11 pm - Tour de Delta Celebrates 10 Years with Canadian Crit Champions

Posted by Editor on 06/24/10

The Tour de Delta will celebrate a decade of world-class bike racing in July by crowning four new Canadian Criterium champions as part of three days of wheel-to-wheel cycling action that will kick off the 2010 BC Superweek in style.

Having a Canadian title on the line for the first time at BC Superweek is expected to boost what has always been an impressive field traditionally loaded with the top riders and teams from the North American professional circuits.

"Four of the five best US teams will be represented," said long-time Tour de Delta recruiter Jamie Davidson, listing off a who's who of top North American teams, including Bissell, United Healthcare, Jelly Belly and Kelly Benefit Strategies.

Those teams include a handful of Canadian directors and top riders, many who have enjoyed success at BC Superweek races in the past. In fact, for several of them, success at the high-profile local races paved the way to top US teams.

Now Vancouver-area riders like Olympian Zach Bell and Ryan Anderson (both with Kelly Benefit), multiple BC Superweek race winner Andrew Pinfold (United Healthcare), and Will Routley (Jelly Belly) are coming back to compete for a national title. Add in the exciting return of ProTour riders Christian Meier and Olympian Svein Tuft, who race for Garmin-Transitions in Europe, and $25,000 in prizes, and the 10th anniversary Tour de Delta will be something to celebrate.

"These guys are going to put on a great show," said Davidson.

The Canadian champion jerseys will be unveiled at the Tour de Delta Sponsor's Reception next Tuesday, June 29th, and on the line for men and women at the senior and under-23 levels during the Brenco Criterium on Saturday, July 10th.

The Tour de Delta kicks off with the MK Delta Prologue on July 9th, with riders on special time trial bikes blasting down a large steel ramp and onto a quick three kilometre course, with top speeds expected to reach 60 km/hour. It continues with the Canadian titles on the line at the Brenco Criterium, a multi-lap race through the streets and tight corners of Ladner's fishing village on Saturday, July 10th, and wraps up with the gruelling White Spot Road Race on Sunday, July 11th.

BC Superweek then continues with three more races from July 16-18 at the 31st Tour de White Rock, a challenging three-event weekend (HomelIfe Hillclimb, Bosa Properties Criterium and Peace Arch News Road Race) with a history of top riders that includes serving as Canada’s pre-Olympic camp in 1992.